Past Simple vs. Present Perfect – English Grammar Exercises for A2
Choose the best option to complete each sentence. All questions are based on a long-term user review of a high-end laptop on an e-commerce platform.
1 I ______ this laptop exactly one year ago during the Black Friday sale.
(a) have bought
(b) buyed
(c) bought
(d) buy
2 I ______ it every single day for my work since then.
(a) used
(b) have used
(c) has used
(d) am using
3 When the package first ______, I was very impressed with the metal build.
(a) has arrived
(b) arrived
(c) arrive
(d) arriveded
4 I ______ any technical problems with the screen so far.
(a) haven’t had
(b) didn’t had
(c) haven’t have
(d) didn’t have
5 My old laptop ______ after only six months of use.
(a) has broken
(b) broke
(c) breaked
(d) breaks
6 I ______ this brand for a long time, and they never disappoint.
(a) knew
(b) have known
(c) have knowed
(d) know
7 Last month, I ______ it by accident, but the frame didn’t even scratch.
(a) dropped
(b) have dropped
(c) droped
(d) was dropping
8 How long ______ you ______ this specific model?
(a) did / own
(b) have / owned
(c) have / own
(d) do / owned
9 The battery life ______ excellent for the first few months.
(a) has been
(b) was
(c) been
(d) is being
10 Since I updated the software last week, the speed ______ even faster.
(a) became
(b) has become
(c) has became
(d) becomes
11 I ______ many different brands before I decided to buy this one.
(a) have tried
(b) tryed
(c) tried
(d) have try
12 “I ______ my charger yesterday! Does anyone know where to buy a replacement?”
(a) lost
(b) have lost
(c) losed
(d) lose
13 The keys on the keyboard ______ color even after 10 million clicks.
(a) didn’t changed
(b) haven’t changed
(c) haven’t change
(d) don’t change
14 I ______ several reviews about the hinges before I made my purchase.
(a) read
(b) have read
(c) red
(d) have red
15 This is the most durable device that I ______ in my entire life.
(a) owned
(b) have ever owned
(c) have ever own
(d) ever owned
16 The price ______ up by 20% since I bought it last year.
(a) went
(b) has gone
(c) has went
(d) goes
17 I ______ the customer service team last night to ask about the warranty.
(a) have contacted
(b) contacted
(c) contacted with
(d) have contact
18 Wait, ______ the company ______ a new version of this laptop yet?
(a) did / release
(b) has / released
(c) has / release
(d) is / released
19 I ______ to five different countries with this laptop in my backpack.
(a) traveled
(b) have traveled
(c) have travel
(d) travel
20 I ______ it for a year now, and it still feels brand new.
(a) had
(b) have had
(c) have have
(d) am having
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (c) bought
- Why correct: “One year ago” is a finished time expression, requiring Past Simple.
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake (using Present Perfect with specific time); (b) is a structural error (irregular verb); (d) is the wrong tense.
2 (b) have used
- Why correct: “Since then” indicates an action starting in the past and continuing to the present.
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake (ignoring the duration); (c) is a structural error (subject-verb agreement); (d) is a meaning trap.
3 (b) arrived
- Why correct: “When the package first arrived” refers to a specific point in the past.
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake; (c) is the wrong tense; (d) is a spelling error.
4 (a) haven’t had
- Why correct: “So far” is a signal for Present Perfect. We need “have” + V3 (had).
- Analysis: (b) is a structural error (did + V2); (c) is a common mistake (forgetting V3); (d) is a meaning trap (Past Simple).
5 (b) broke
- Why correct: The speaker is talking about a finished event in the past (the old laptop).
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake; (c) is a structural error (irregular verb); (d) is the wrong tense.
6 (b) have known
- Why correct: “For a long time” shows a state that continues until now. “Know” is a stative verb.
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake (implies you don’t know them anymore); (c) is a structural error (irregular verb); (d) is the wrong tense.
7 (a) dropped
- Why correct: “Last month” is a specific finished time.
- Analysis: (b) is a common mistake; (c) is a spelling error; (d) is a meaning trap.
8 (b) have / owned
- Why correct: Asking about the duration of possession up to the present.
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake (implies you no longer own it); (c) is a structural error (missing V3); (d) is a structural error.
9 (b) was
- Why correct: “For the first few months” refers to a completed period in the past.
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake (thinking “for” always means Present Perfect); (c) is a structural error; (d) is a meaning trap.
10 (b) has become
- Why correct: “Since” requires Present Perfect. The result is relevant now.
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake; (c) is a structural error (become-became-become); (d) is the wrong tense.
11 (c) tried
- Why correct: This refers to the specific period before the purchase, which is finished.
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake; (b) is a spelling error; (d) is a structural error.
12 (a) lost
- Why correct: “Yesterday” is a finished time.
- Analysis: (b) is a common mistake (using Present Perfect for specific past time); (c) is a structural error; (d) is the wrong tense.
13 (b) haven’t changed
- Why correct: “Even after 10 million clicks” implies the state from the beginning until now.
- Analysis: (a) is a structural error (did + V2); (c) is a common mistake (missing -ed); (d) is the wrong tense.
14 (a) read
- Why correct: Refers to the time before the purchase (finished). “Read” is pronounced /red/ but spelled “read”.
- Analysis: (b) is a common mistake; (c) and (d) are spelling traps.
15 (b) have ever owned
- Why correct: Superlatives (the most…) are often followed by Present Perfect to show experience.
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake; (c) is a structural error; (d) is a meaning trap.
16 (b) has gone
- Why correct: “Since” indicates a change from a past point until now.
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake; (c) is a structural error (go-went-gone); (d) is the wrong tense.
17 (b) contacted
- Why correct: “Last night” is a specific past time.
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake; (c) is a structural error (“contact” does not take “with”); (d) is a structural error.
18 (b) has / released
- Why correct: “Yet” is used for recent events in Present Perfect questions.
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake; (c) is a structural error (needs V3); (d) is a meaning trap.
19 (b) have traveled
- Why correct: This is a life experience (the laptop’s history), and the time isn’t specified.
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake; (c) is a structural error; (d) is the wrong tense.
20 (b) have had
- Why correct: “For a year now” shows a duration starting in the past and continuing. “Had” is the V3 of “have”.
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake (ignoring the present connection); (c) is a structural error; (d) is a meaning trap (stative verb).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Past Simple (V2): Use this to talk about the start of your ownership.
- Example: I bought it in 2023 (Specific time: 2023).
- Present Perfect (Have/Has + V3): Use this to talk about the duration or experience of using the product.
- Example: I have owned it for a year. (Duration: 1 year).
- Key Signal Words: * Past Simple: yesterday, ago, last week, when I was…
- Present Perfect: for, since, so far, recently, yet, ever.